Only 1 in 6...

[skip0110]

Only 1 in 6 internet users can tell the difference between a "sponsored link" and an actual search result.

According to this site, "only 38 percent of Web searchers even know of the distinction, and of those, not even half - 47 percent - say they can always tell which are paid. That comes out to only 18 percent of all Web searchers knowing when a link is paid."

So can you tell? I'd like to think GTP users are some of the more saavy internet users, but who knows?

 

[PublicSecrecy]

totally. if it's at the top of the list and is completely unrelated...uuuhhh hellooooo.

 

[CDailey]

Someone watched TSS tonight.

 

[skip0110]

I saw it on Fark.

 

[Sage]

I've used the Internet long enough that I can't fathom mixing up the two, but there are plenty of people who barely know what the Internet is, so you can't blame them…

 

[Purple Platypus]

It depends on what search engine you're using, but usually it isn't that hard. On google and yahoo, they've got big blue boxes and an entire sidebar full of sponsored links.

 

[Small_Fryz]

its easy to tell, sponsed links look like the ones on the bottom of the posts where searches have discriptions and websites and ive used the net for so long its easy for me to tell

 

[toyomatt84]

Thanks to ixquick, I don't need to be so frustrated with that.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I think that the question would be fairer if you deleted the proportion of people who didn't know what a sponsored link was, and then measured the population. It annoys me that these survey results are being used to try to back up the proposition that search engines are in some way insidious in their behaviour.

 

[skip0110]

I think that the question would be fairer if you deleted the proportion of people who didn't know what a sponsored link was, and then measured the population.

That statistic would be 47% of people who know what a sponsored link is can distinguish. Still quite weak--think of it, these primitive means of advertising sucessfully dupe 1 in 2 people.

It annoys me that these survey results are being used to try to back up the proposition that search engines are in some way insidious in their behaviour.

By no means do I think this shows search engines are evil--such a useful and essential service ought to be supported by advertising. I think it speaks something about our general intelligence.

 

[ceiling_fan]

I've used the Internet long enough that I can't fathom mixing up the two, but there are plenty of people who barely know what the Internet is, so you can't blame them…

👍

 

[Blake]

What's a link?

Blake

 

[cardude2004]

What's a link?

Blake

I am sure this is a joke, but a hyperlink is a word, symbol, image, or other element in a hypertext document that links to another such element in the same document or in another hypertext document. The hyperlink is activated with a mouse click.

I think that the question would be fairer if you deleted the proportion of people who didn't know what a sponsored link was, and then measured the population.

That statistic would be 47% of people who know what a sponsored link is can distinguish. Still quite weak--think of it, these primitive means of advertising sucessfully dupe 1 in 2 people.

1 in 2 people is good, when telemarketers only need to sell their product to one person for every million people they call, to make money. They must be making lots of money on internet ads.

 

[skip0110]

1 in 2 people is good, when telemarketers only need to sell their product to one person for every million people they call, to make money. They must be making lots of money on internet ads.

Just because a link is clicked does not mean that someone buys something.

 

[Emohawk]

The tricky part is distinguishing between a usefull search result and a page disguised as a usefull search result that will attempt to get you to buy something.

Thanks to ixquick, I don't need to be so frustrated with that.

I put in %S as a search query so I could make this a FireFox quicksearch.
One of the related searches that came up was " I Am a Lady, How Do I Take off My Panties?"
I felt this deserved mentioning.

 

[Blake]

I am sure this is a joke, but a hyperlink is a word, symbol, image, or other element in a hypertext document that links to another such element in the same document or in another hypertext document. The hyperlink is activated with a mouse click.

Haha! You responded, I got you good!

*cough*

Never mind.

Blake

 

[1995_eclipse]

every body... dont worry i can tell the difference